Russellville officers receive awardsThe Russellville Police Department handed out awards to seven officers for accomplishments in 2014 during a ceremony Wednesday. Two officers received the Meritorious Award — Detective Steve Barker and Detective Ricky Hendrix. The Meritorious Award is given for outstanding job accomplishment. Chief Jeff Humphrey said Barker was recognized for his "continuous and passionate commitment in investigating crimes against children." Humphrey said Hend...

Greathouse named Officer of the YearOfficer James "Brett" Greathouse was named the 2014 Officer of the Year and awarded a plaque during a ceremony Wednesday at the Russellville Police Department (RPD). "This award is given to an officer who has distinguished himself through either an accumulation of exceptional contributions or a single incident, and whose actions clearly place the individual above others of equal rank or grade," Chief Jeff Humphrey said as he presented Greathou...

Alliance considers hiring PR firmJeff Pipkin, Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) and Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce president, told the AVAED during its regular meeting Thursday he contacted Mitchell Communications Group to inquire about help with public relations issues. He said the firm, who worked on the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market project, gave him a one-page summary of some actions it might take if hired as well as an estimate of $12,000-$1...

Russellville City Council tells engineer to move forward on O Street designThe Russellville City Council instructed Public Works Director and City Engineer Kurt Jones move forward with surveying work and a final design of the O Street project during Thursday’s meeting at City Hall. Jones presented updated designs to aldermen during the Finance Committee meeting that showed the complete-street project going to the Reasoner-Parker Road intersection. The council reviewed a design during its Feb. 10 Finance Committee tha...

Public weighs in on Clean LineNearly 200 people packed the Lake Point Conference Center on Tuesday to discuss the proposed Plains & Eastern Clean Line Transmission Project. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is considering partnering with Clean Line Energy Partners LLC on the project and hosted the public hearing to assess the project's potential environmental impacts and receive the public's input. Jane Summerson, DOE spokesman, said all comments submitted — whether spok...

Report: Construction down, business permits upThe city had fewer construction projects but more new business permits issued in 2014 than 2013, according to a community development annual report. In 2014, the city reported 244 construction projects with an estimated cost of nearly $33.3 million, down 80 from 324 construction projects in 2013 with an estimated cost of $78.1 million. The construction projects reported include single family residences, residential remodels/additions, accessor...

Pottsville approves $71,500 equipment purchasePOTTSVILLE — The City Council approved purchasing a new backhoe loader during a special meeting last week at Pottsville City Hall. Mayor Jerry Williams said he called the meeting because the current backhoe loader was in poor shape. "This is one we put off for a long time," Mayor Jerry Williams said. "We finally felt like we had to purchase one." Williams said it would take about $20,000-$30,000 to fix the current backhoe loader, so the counci...

Committee ponders food truck regulationsThe committee tasked with drafting an ordinance regarding food truck regulations discussed what constitutes a food truck during its first meeting this week. City Planner David Harris said if the operation stays in one spot, it is not a portable food truck, regardless of its capability to move. "They're not temporary if they stay for months and months or however long," he said. "The fact that you could pull up and drive away — it's only theoret...

Orbit Lane Trail to open in AprilThe Russellville Recreation and Parks Commission discussed the opening of Orbit Lane Trail during its meeting Tuesday at the Hughes Center. Director Mack Hollis said the trail is nearly complete and will be open to the public in April. "It's pretty much ready to use now, but it's not completed. We still have about 1,700 feet to set up and asphalt. I've contacted a company about putting a stripe down the middle," Hollis said. "I would think it ...

Russellville man dies days after rollover crashLITTLE ROCK — A Pope County man died Wednesday from injuries he sustained in a Monday night crash Monday in Johnson County. James Carlton Miller Davis, 22, of Russellville was driving east on U.S. Highway 64 near the intersection with State Highway 359 in Lamar shortly before 11 p.m. Monday when the vehicle went out of control, according to a police report. Arkansas State Police reported Davis then "over-corrected and began to rollover." Davis...

Aldermen discuss manager, O Street sidewalk projectMorgan Barrett of Barrett and Associates knows a thing or two about how important a construction manager can be to the success of a project. Barrett, also a member of the Russellville School Board, pointed out that hiring a construction manager for the new high school gym project, which totaled $12.5 million, has made it a very successful project. “The selection of a construction manager is based on qualifications,” Barrett told the Russellvil...

Former sheriff to direct juvenile centerDANVILLE — A former sheriff has been hired as director of the Yell County Juvenile Detention Center. Mike May, who served two terms as Yell County Sheriff in the late 1980s through the early 1990s, will take his post as director on Feb. 16. Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced his hiring late Tuesday. Captain John Foster Jr., Yell County Sheriff's Department spokesman, said May will be a good fit for the center. "We are looking forward to moving forw...

Tri-Peaks Tourism Membership Banquet announcedIt’s time for the Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Association to once again host its annual Membership Banquet. The banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Paris Community Center, located at 23 E. Main St. in downtown Paris. The banquet will attract top business tourism community leaders throughout six counties. The event will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and launch the new Tri-Peaks initiatives and the media r...

Council backs firing police chiefCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville City Council unanimously approved backing the mayor's decision to fire Police Chief Greg Donaldson during its regular meeting Tuesday. A crowd of Clarksville residents packed City Hall for the meeting with dozens lining the walls outside council chambers after the room was filled. Dozens more gathered around a laptop and speakers used to live stream meetings. Shortly after the meeting began, City Clerk Barbara Bla...

The race is on (Feb. 8, 2015)Editor’s note: Will Berry is a member of the board of directors for the RussVegas Half Marathon and Relay. He will write a column about various topics relating to the half-marathon in the weeks leading up to the April 10-11 event. This week he did a Q & A with two of the winners from last year’s event. Carson Miller, 19, of Dover was the 2014 RussVegas Overall Winner with a time of 1:18:52. How long have you been running? I ran my first race w...

Historic building renovated as living unitsWhat once housed visitors for less than $1 per night is now functioning to revitalize historic downtown Russellville. Jimmy Streett and Shane Butler have transformed the 1920s-era building from a hotel — and everything in between — to commercial and residential units. Streett said renovated historic buildings across the downtown area are bringing more than character. “This is what makes downtown Russellville unique,” Streett said. “This is the...

In a race against cancerAlthough the average morning commute is hampered by trains and stoplights, nothing but the sound of his own footsteps alters Victor Prati’s route in Russellville. Each day, either before or after work, Prati runs to raise awareness for children’s cancer research. He said it was the least he could do for his 3-year-old daughter, Zola, who is in remission from liver cancer. Averaging more than 3 miles every day, Prati said he plans to run 100 da...

Johnson County roads improvements approvedThe Arkansas Highway Commission approved bids for street improvements in Johnson County, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) stated in a news release. "The purpose of the project is to resurface and rehabilitate 1.7 miles of roadway in Knoxville and 1.2 miles in Hartman," the release stated. Blackstone Construction, LLC of Russellville was awarded the $363,784 contract. If weather permits, construction could begin w...

Nearly 1,700 vote early in Senate runoffThe Pope County Election Commission reported 1,681 voted during the first week of early voting in the runoff election for the District 16 State Senate seat. During January's special election, 1,765 Pope County residents voted early. Greg Standridge of Russellville and Stan Berry of Dover received the most votes last month, but neither garnered the more than 50 percent necessary to avoid a runoff. Standridge received nearly 48 percent of the vo...

Clarksville police chief terminatedCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Police Department confirmed that after eight years serving as police chief, Greg Donaldson was terminated by Mayor Mark Simpson late Wednesday. A department representative, who declined to give her name, said she didn't want to comment further. "That's all there is," she said. Donaldson said he wasn't given a reason for the termination and speculated it may be related to him wanting to fill three vacancies in the ...